Global Burden of Armed Violence - The Geneva Declaration on ...

Executive Summary
<strong>Armed</strong> violence imposes a tremendous
human and economic burden on individuals,
families, and communities. More
than 740,000 people die each year as a result <strong>of</strong>
the violence associated with armed conflicts and
large- and small-scale criminality. <strong>The</strong> majority
<strong>of</strong> these deaths—as many as 490,000—occur
outside war zones. This figure shows that war is
only one <strong>of</strong> many forms <strong>of</strong> armed violence, and in
most regions not the most important one.
<strong>Armed</strong> violence is spread across age groups but
affects certain groups and regions disproportionately.
It is the fourth leading cause <strong>of</strong> death
for persons between the ages <strong>of</strong> 15 and 44 worldwide.
In more than 40 countries, it is one <strong>of</strong> the
top ten causes <strong>of</strong> death. In Latin America and
Africa, armed violence is the seventh and ninth
leading cause <strong>of</strong> death, respectively (Peden,
McGee, and Krug, 2002; WHO, 2008b). 1 Yet certain
demographic groups (especially young men) and
geographic regions are much more affected than
others. <strong>The</strong> full dimensions <strong>of</strong> armed violence are
<strong>of</strong>ten invisible unless they are closely monitored
and analysed.
Beyond the chilling calculus <strong>of</strong> deaths, armed
violence imposes huge human, social, and economic
costs on states and societies. An untold
number <strong>of</strong> people each year are injured—<strong>of</strong>ten
suffering permanent disabilities—and many live
with pr<strong>of</strong>ound psychological as well as physical
scars. 2 <strong>The</strong> damaging effects <strong>of</strong> armed violence
include such things as physical and mental disabil-
ities, brain and internal organ injuries, bruises and
scalds, chronic pain syndrome, and a range <strong>of</strong> sexual
and reproductive health problems (WHO, 2008a).
<strong>Armed</strong> violence also corrodes the social fabric <strong>of</strong>
communities, sows fear and insecurity, destroys
human and social capital, and undermines devel-
opment investments and aid effectiveness. <strong>The</strong>
death and destruction <strong>of</strong> war—which ebbs and
flows from year to year and is concentrated in a
few countries—reduces gross domestic product
(GDP) growth by more than two per cent annu-
ally, with effects lingering many years after the
fighting ends. <strong>The</strong> economic cost—in terms <strong>of</strong>
lost productivity—<strong>of</strong> non-conflict armed violence
(large- and small-scale criminal and political
violence) is USD 95 billion and could reach up
to USD 163 billion annually worldwide.
Undertaking research and gathering data on armed
violence is difficult and <strong>of</strong>ten controversial. <strong>Violence</strong>
has political implications (even when the violence
itself may not be politicized) and is seldom random.
Different groups <strong>of</strong>ten have an interest in under-
stating or concealing the scope <strong>of</strong> lethal armed
violence, making the collection <strong>of</strong> reliable data
and impartial analysis particularly challenging.
<strong>The</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> effective and practical measures
to reduce armed violence nevertheless depends
on the development <strong>of</strong> reliable information and
analysis <strong>of</strong> its causes and consequences. <strong>The</strong>
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Burden</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Armed</strong> <strong>Violence</strong> report draws on
a wide variety <strong>of</strong> sources and datasets to provide
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E X ECU T I V E SUMM A RY
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